Xander Bogaerts promoted to Triple A

BALTIMORE — The Red Sox have promoted their top prospect, 20-year-old shortstop Xander Bogaerts, to Triple A Pawtucket.

Bogaerts will be in uniform tonight when Pawtucket hosts Buffalo at McCoy Stadium.

According to the Paw Sox, Bogaerts would be the youngest position player in team history. Righthander Jeff Suppan was 11 days younger when he made his debut with Pawtucket in 1995.

Bogaerts hit .311/.407/.50 in 56 games for Portland with 24 extra-base hits and five stolen bases. He leaves Portland with hits in 14 of his last 33 at-bats. Bogaerts reached safely in 51 of 56 games this season.

Some analysts believe the 6-foot-3 Bogaerts will become too big to play shortstop. But the Red Sox are not in that camp and based on watching him in spring training, they’re correct. Bogaerts is very smooth at shortstop and shows no signs of outgrowing the position.

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The natural question is what will happen down the road with Jose Iglesias, Deven Marrero and some of the other shortstops in the system. Those things will play themselves out one way or another (position switches, trades, etc.). For now, being deep at a premium position is hardly a problem.

Next prospect to keep an eye on: High Single A third baseman Garin Cecchini. The 22-year-old is hitting 351/.468/.541 at Salem and could land at Portland soon.